This clash at Selhurst Park features Crystal Palace, known for their reactive style, against Aston Villa, who often dominate possession and prefer attacking play. Villa's quick counter-attacks could exploit Palace’s space, while Palace's disciplined defense aims to frustrate Villa’s offensive patterns, making for a tactically intriguing encounter.
Check out our complete thoughts below.
These are our top betting tips and predictions for the match.
Expect Aston Villa to be more aggressive early, possibly taking the lead in the first half, with a typical pattern of strong first-half performances.
Aston Villa is expected to perform strongly, with an Asian handicap favoring them, suggesting a likely win or minimum draw scenario. The focus will be on their recent goal-scoring consistency and defensive solidity.
Both teams have demonstrated offensive potency in recent fixtures, but Crystal Palace's recent defensive lapses and Aston Villa's strong attack make both teams to score a plausible market.
Given the recent stats, the over 2.5 goals market is attractive, considering Aston Villa's prolific attack and Palace's defensive vulnerabilities.
Crystal Palace hosts Aston Villa on January 7, 2026, with the visitors favored to secure at least a draw due to their superior recent form and head-to-head record. Villa's offensive strength and defensive resilience make them slight favorites to win.
The matchup between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa has typically favored Villa, who hold a 93% winning record in past encounters. Recent fixtures show Villa with a clear edge, including dominant victories at Villa Park and tough away results for Palace.
Both teams report minimal injury concerns, with Palace missing some squad players and Villa maintaining a full-strength squad. Tactical selections are expected to be based on current available personnel.
Predicted lineups point to Aston Villa likely lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing attack and midfield control. Crystal Palace may set up in a 3-4-2-1, focusing on defensive stability and counter-attacks.
Villa's form is exceptional in recent fixtures, with a streak of wins boosting morale. Crystal Palace’s form has been inconsistent, with notable home wins but recent losses suggesting resilience but also vulnerability.
See below all the main information for this match.
The match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa is scheduled for January 7, 2026, at Selhurst Park. Aston Villa are slight favorites with a predicted win or draw, highlighted by their recent form and higher win probability, though Crystal Palace can pose a threat at home.
Aston Villa has shown strong recent form, winning four out of their last five fixtures, including impressive wins against top teams and close contests. Crystal Palace's recent form is mixed, with some standout victories but overall inconsistency in their last matches.
A prediction suggests Aston Villa is favored with a 45% chance to win or draw, while Crystal Palace's chance remains slim at 10%. The expected scoreline likely sees Aston Villa securing a narrow victory based on recent head-to-head and form metrics.
